Fuel distributor



Oct. 27, 1936. F. P. RoEscH 2,058,828

FUEL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Oct. 50, 1954 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY ma es on. 21, was

FUEL DIS TRIBUTOR Frank P. ltoeschrchicago, 111., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application October 30, 1934, Serial No. WEL613 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the distributing member of stokers of the type that communicate with the firebox through a firing opening in a wall thereof above the level of the 5 firebox grate. More particularlythe invention relates to distributing members of the air cooled type, in which air from without the firebox is drawn into a chamber formed with the distributing member and is exhausted through a plum rality of apertures in the walls of the chamber. In distributing members of the type described.

it is important that the side and bottom walls of the chamber should fit closely against the lower marginal edge of the firing opening to prevent the escape of cooling air through the space between the rearward edges of the cooling chamber walls and the wall of the" firing opening, thereby forcing the air to escape through the apertures provided for that purpose.

However, since the distance between the side and bottom walls of the chambered distributing member and the lower marginal edge of the firing opening varies with almost every stoker installation, because of the diiferent types and dimensions of door flanges, and because of differences in the height of the firing opening and other variations in boilers that cause thedistributing member to extend a variable distance into, the firebox or at variable heights, it has been 80 impossible to provide a close fit between the sides and bottom walls of the distributing member and the door sheet without making each distributing member specially for each stoker installation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to 5 provide a novel distributing member of the chambered type which is adapted, in any stoker installation in a boiler, to fit closely against the door sheet.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel distributing member of the chambered type having an adjustable apron adapted to form a closure between the bottom and side walls of the chambered distributing member and the door sheet in a stoker installation in a boiler.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description, and from the claims and 50 drawings, in which,

. Fig. i is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a firebox and stoker embodying a preferred form of the invention;

'Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the novel distributing member with the apron detached,

part oi the distributing member being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the distributing member with the apron attached, parts being broken away;

Fig. i is a sectional view on the line ii-i oi Fig. i;

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view on the line t-i oi e Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line t-t of N Fig. i; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a firebox and a modified iorm oi stoker embodying the invention.

While the novel distributing member may be 1% used with various types of furnaces, it is especially adapted for use with a locomotive firebox and it has therefore been shown so applied in the drawings. The words forward and rearward and similar expressions as applied to the so elements oi the distributing member are used with reference to the direction of travel of the fuel.

A locomotive firebox is designated by the numeral lb and comprises a backheadii formed as by inner and outer sheets I2 and i3, respectively.

A firing opening it of the conventional form used on stoker fired locomotives is provided in the backhead H.

Fuel is delivered to the firebox by a stoker. to which is designated generally by the numeral it, only so much of it being shown as is essential to a complete understanding of the invention. The stoker it comprises a conduit l6, which is mounted with .the backhead H so that its discharge end or mouth portion extends into the lower portion of the firing opening l4. Fuel is advanced through the conduit it into the firing opening M by the screw conveyor i! and is projeoted over the fire in the firebox by blasts of pressure fluid issuing from the jets H3 in the chambered jet plate It. The jet plate i9 preferably vforms a fioor portion 20 for the forward end of the conduit 16. Suitable piping (not shown) is provided for delivering pressure fiuid from a source of supply to the chambered jet plate l9.

The pressure fluid blast issuing from the jets I8 projects the fuel across a distributing member 2! which is detachably secured to and supported from the jet plate i 9 in the following manner. The rear edge portion of the top wall 22 of the distributing member 21 rests on a ledge 23 that extends forwardly from the lower forward edge of the jet plate I9. Depending from the under side of the distributor top wall 22 are rearwardly extending lugs, such as 24, one at each side portion of the distributor top wall 22. The lugs 24 are each provided with an upstanding curved rib 25, each of which cooperates with a complementary curved wall 28 of the jet plate I9 to hingedly connect the jet plate l9 and the distributing member 2|.

Ribs 21 are formed with the distributor top wall 22 to deflect a portion of the projected fuel to the sides of the firebox. It is essential that the distributing member 2| be mounted forward of the inside sheet H of the backhead II a distance sumcient to deflect fuel to the rear corners of the firebox. In this position, the distributing member 2| is of course subjected to the intense heat of the firebox, and to provide for cooling of the distributing member 2|, a construction simi lar to that shown in the patent to Hunt 1,869,061 is provided. The distributing member 2| includes a front wall 28 depending from the forward edge of the distributor top wall 22, a pair of side walls 29 and 30 depending from the side edges of the top wall 22 and a rearwardly and downwardly sloping bottom wall 3| joining with the lower marginal edges of the front and side walls 28, 29 and 30. The walls 22, 28, 29, 30 and 3| define a chamber 32 open at its rearward end, through which opening a current of air is drawn from outside the firebox due to the draft in the firebox.

A plurality of perforations 33 are provided in the front, side and bottom walls of the distributing member 2| through which the air is drawn from the chamber 32 into the firebox. Ribs, as at 34, are provided for the purpose of adding strength to the distributing member 2| and to minimize the tendency of warping or bending. The draft of the firebox draws a current of out side air to the firebox through the entrance 35 beneath the jet plate l9, the air in its passage through the chamber 32 and through the perforations 33 impinging against the distributing member and efiecting a cooling action that protects the portion of the distributing member exposed to the fire from burning away.

To obtain effective cooling of the member 2| it is essential that the rearward edge of the bottom wall 3| should fit closely against the inside sheet 2 at the lower marginal edge 36 of the firing opening [4. If a close fit is not provided for, the air from outside the firebox will be drawn through the gap between the bottom wall 3| and the inside sheet l2 instead of being drawn into the chamber 32 and through the perforations 33. The inside sheet of the backhead adjacent the firing opening varies greatly in the different boilers and it is therefore impractical and expensive to provide a special distributing member for each stoker installation to insure a close fit between the bottom wall of the distributing member and the inside sheet of the backhead 'at the lower marginal edge of the firing opening.

To permit the use of a standard type of distributing member, I provide a member, the bottom wall of which ends short of the inside sheet of the inside of the backhead. A sealing member or apron 31 is mounted in the chamber 32 of the distributing member on the lower wall thereof and forms a closure for the gap between the rearward edge of the distributor bottom wall 3| and the inside sheet of the backhead. The sealing member 31 is arranged to slide on the distributor bottom wall 3|, so that it can be made to project the necessary distance rearward of the wall 22 to close the gap between the wall 3| and the inside sheet l2.

The sealing member or apron 31 comprises a strip-like portion 38, the ends of which are turned up on a radius to suit the inside contour of the distributing member. Projecting from one edge of the strip-like portion 38 of the apron 31 are the prongs 39; and, slots 40 are providedin the upturned end portions of the portion 38.

The distributing member is provided with T- shaped guides 4| which are preferably formed with the ribs 34. The bolt holes 42 in the distributing member 2| are arranged to register with the slots 40 when the apron 31 is assembled with the distributing member. The prongs 39 of the apron 31 engage the T-shaped guides 4| and permit the apron 31 to slide freely on the distributor bottom wall 3| in a longitudinal direction. The sealing member or apron 31 may be used as a free sliding member for self adjustment against the inner sheet |2 of the backhead by reasonof the fact that it will slide downwardly along the distributor bottom 3| due to the force of gravity. Or, the apron 31 may be adjusted to the desired position and held securely to the distributor member by bolts 43 extending through the holes 42 in the distributing member and through the slots 40 in the apron 31.

In Fig. 7 the invention is shown applied to a modified form of stoker in which the riser conduit 50 terminates at its upper end outside the firebox 5|, adjacent the lower portion of the firing opening 52. The lower forward end of the riser conduit 50 is provided with a wall 53 and extending forwardly therefrom is a distributor plate 54. The plate 54 is rigidly secured to the riser conduit 50 by bolts 55 passing through the wall 53 of the conduit 50 and the flange portion 56 of the distributor plate 54. The'plate 54 comprises a rear portion 51 and a front portion 58 arranged at their adjacent edges with interlocking means detachably joining the two portions. The forward portion 58 is provided with front, bottom and side walls forming with the top wall a chamber 59 just as in the preferred form of the invention. The forward portion 58 is provided with a sealing member 60 that is in all respects the same as in the preferred form of the invention and its construction and relation with the chambered portion of the distributor plate need not be repeated.

It is apparent that the novel sealing member forms a close fitting closure for the chamber in the distributing member which prevents the escape of the cooling air therefrom except for its emission through the apertures in the front, bottom and side walls that form the chamber of the distributor plate. Adjustment of the sealing member is conveniently provided for whereby the device is applicable to firing openings of all different types.

I claim:

1. In combination, a fuel distributing member for stokers comprising a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward and side walls depending from said top wall, a bottom wall inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said forward wall and spaced apart from said top wall, said forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber, said forward, side and bottom walls being provided with a plurality of perforations, and a plate-like member slidable with respect to said bottom wall to form a rearward extension of said bottom and side walls.

2. .In combination, a fuel distributing member for stokers comprising a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward and side walls depending from said top wall, a bottom wall inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said forward wall and spaced apart from said top wall, said forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber, sa'idforward, side and bottom walls beingprovided with a plurality of perforations, a plate-like member slidable with respect to said bottom wall to form a rearward extension of said bottom and side walls, and means for locking said plate-like member in any one of a number of positions.

3. In .combination, a fuel distributing member for stokers comprising atop wall arranged said forward, side and bottom walls being provided with a plurality of perforations, guides provided on the bottom wall of said distributing member, a plate-like member forming an extension of said bottom wall, and means on said plate-like member engaging said guides for slidably mounting said last named member with said distributing member.

4. As an article of manufacture, 'a fuel distributing member for stokers comprising, when in operative position at a firing opening, a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass-thereover for distribution, forward and side walls depending from said top wall, a bottom wall inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said forward wall and spaced apart from said top wall, said forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber, said forward, bottom and side walls being provided with a plurality of perforations, said distributing member being provided with ribs substantially T-shaped in cross section forming guide members and extending longitudinally between the top and bottom walls of said distributing member.

5. As an article of manufacture, a fuel distributing member for stokers comprising, when in an operative position at a firing opening, a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward and side walls depending from said top wall, a bottom wall inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said forward wall and spaced apart from said top wall, said forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber, said forward, bottom and side walls being provided with a plurality of perforations, said distributing member being provided with ribs extending longitudinally'between said top and bottom walls, said ribs being substantially T-shaped in cross section, the cross piece of said T-shaped ribs being substantially parallel with said bottom wall.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a sealing.

portions having a slot substantially parallel with said prongs.

7. In combination, a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker communi- I eating with said opening, said stoker having a distributing member extending into said firebox and being spaced above the lower marginal edge of-said opening to provide a passage therebeneath, said distributing member including a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber communicating with said passage, said bottom wall terminating short of the lower marginal edge of the firing opening, and a plate-like member slidably engaging said distributing member and adjustable to form a closure for the opening between the rearward edge of said distributing member bottom wall and the lower marginal edge of said firing opening.

8. In combination, a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker communicating with said opening, said stoker having a distributing member extending into said firebox and beingspaced above the lower marginal edge of said opening to provide therebeneath a pas-v sage for admission of air from without the firebox, said distributing member including a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber beneath-the top wall, said bottom wall terminating short of the'lower marginal edge of the firing opening, and a plate-like member slidably engaging said distributing member below the top wall thereof adjustable to form a closure for the opening between the rearward edge of said distributor bottom wall and the lower marginal edge of said firing opening whereby air will pass through said passage into saidchamber, the walls of said distributing member being provided with perforations for the emission of air from said chamber.

9. In combination, a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker communicating with said opening, said stoker having a distributing member extending into said firebox and being spaced above the lower marginal edge of said opening to provide a passage therebeneath, said distributing member including a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber communicating with said passage, said bottom wall terminating short of the lower marginal edge of the firing opening, and a platelike member mounted to slide in said chamber along said bottom wall and arranged when slid rearwardly to form an extension of said bottom wall and to form a closure for the opening between said bottom wall and the lower marginal edge of said firing opening, and means for securing said plate-like member to said distributing member in said last named position.-

10. In combination, a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a-stoker communicating with said opening, said stoker having a distributing member extending-into said firebox and being spaced above the lower marginal edge of said opening to provide a passage therebeneath, said distributing member including a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber communicating with said passage, said bottom wall terminating short of the lower marginal edge ofthe firing opening, guides provided on the bottom wall of said distributing member, and a plate-like member forming an extension of said bottom wall, said platelike member being provided with means slidably engaging said guides and adiustable to form a closure for the opening between said bottom wall and the lower marginal edge of said firing opening.

11. In combination, a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker conduit extending into the opening of the firebox, the bottom wall of said conduit at its forward end being spaced abovethe lower marginal edge of said opening to provide a passage therebeneath, said stoker conduit being provided with a distributing member in the firebox having a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber communicating with said passage, said bottom wall terminating short of the lower marginal edge of said firing opening, and a platelike member slidably engaging said distributing member and adjustable to form a closure for the opening between the rearward edge of said bottom wall and the lower marginal edge of said firing opening.

12. In combination, a firebox having a wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker conduit extending through the opening into the firebox, said stoker conduit being provided with a distributing member, the rearward portion of said distributing member forming the bottom of the forward end of said conduit and being spaced above the lower marginal edge of the firing opening to provide a passage therebeneath, the forward portion of said distributing member extending into said firebox and having a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber communicating with said passage, said bottom wall terminating short of the lower marginal edge of said firing opening, and a plate-like member slidably engaging said bottom wall and adjustable to form a closure for the opening between the rearward edge of said bottom wall and the lower marginal edge of said firing opening.

13. In combination, a fuel distributing member for stokers comprising a top wall arranged to permit fuel to pass thereover for distribution, forward and side walls depending from said top wall, a bottom wall extending rearwardly from said forward wall and spaced apart fromsaid top wall, said forward, bottom and side walls forming with said top wall a rearwardly opening chamber, at least one of said walls being provided with a plurality of apertures below the level of said top wall, and a plate-like member slidable with respect to said bottom wall to form a rearward extension of said bottom and side walls.

FRANK P. ROESCH. 

